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He was left out of the initial 41-man squad for the Challenge Cup campaign, which gets underway on Thursday when Gloucester face French Top 14 side Pau away in pool three.

“You have to name your squad quite soon so that’s why we felt we’re not going to name him in this one,” said Ackermann.

Gloucester’s mounting injury crisis has left them short of midfield options but Mark Atkinson could be back to make the trip to France.

“Mark is cleared so he will join us this week in training so hopefully we can take him with us to Pau,” said Ackermann.

GLOUCESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: Jeremy Thrush of Gloucester charges upfield during the Aviva Premiership match between Gloucester Rugby and Northampton Saints at Kingsholm Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Jeremy Thrush has been ruled out to leave the Cherry and Whites facing a shortage of locks with Ed Slater injuring his finger in the warm-up for Saturday’s Premiership game against Northampton and Mariano Galarza not close to full fitness, although Tom Denton is back in training.

New Zealand international Thrush was a late replacement for Slater but played through the pain barrier after picking up an ankle injury and went for a scan today.

Ackermann said: “He’s off today for final test scans with the doctor so I don’t want to say if it’s going to be one, two or three weeks but he’s definitely not available this week.”

Slater has had an operation on his finger but his injury is not as bad as feared.

Ackermann said: “The good news is it was all bone damage so it’s getting fixed and as long as there is no infection it’s basically a short-term injury. It’s not like Charlie’s where the tendon has snapped and it’s going to take a few months.

“It’s a race against time but two or three weeks hopefully he’ll be back for us.”

Tom Denton of Gloucester Rugby

Denton has just returned from injury, while Academy lock Charlie Beckett is not in Gloucester’s Challenge Cup squad, although he could be registered up until midday on Tuesday to replace another player if required.

Scottish second row Andy Cramond was still on trial with the club in the early part of the season but has now returned to France to sign for Pro D2 club Vannes.

Gloucester’s other option could be to make a positional change with Freddie Clarke and Ruan Ackermann capable of playing at lock.

Ackermann said: “He (Denton) is cleared to train this week so do we throw someone in at the deep side who has just come back from injury or do we play somebody else who’s fit or someone out of position?

“We are thin at locks so we’ll test a few combinations, see who’s best and then make a decision.”

Back rowers Ben Morgan and Ross Moriarty are not yet back yet but Ackermann hopes they will be available for selection “in the next week or two.”